“Portrait Artist of the Year”: A Decade in Celebration with Dame Judi Dench, Sir Lenny Henry on Sky Arts

This autumn, Sky Arts is gearing up to present a spectacular artistic extravaganza with the return of the much-loved national competition Portrait Artist of the Year. On October 4th, Dame Joan Bakewell and Stephen Mangan will return as hosts for the premiere of the show’s tenth season on Sky Arts.

To kick off the series, the winners of Portrait Artist of the Year from the past 10 years will get together at Battersea Arts Centre to paint portraits of Dame Judi Dench. One of the most famous actors in the world will be honoured, and the special will also look back at the careers of previous winners.

Aspiring artists are invited to take part in a mass portrait painting event on September 30 as part of the show’s tenth anniversary celebrations. Sky Arts is attempting to break the record for the most people painting online at once in a single location by submitting their attempt to the GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS.

Sir Lenny Henry, a treasure to the nation, will be the honoured sitter. Lindley Hall in London will host the event, and 200 attendees, both aspiring and established artists, will be able to do so for free. In addition, the session will be broadcast live online, letting fans all over the world take part in the record attempt from the comfort of their own homes, each contributing their own unique portrait of the actor, writer, and comedian. The National Portrait Gallery has recently reopened, and in it is on display Morag Caister’s portrait of Lenny Henry, which won the Portrait Artist award last year.

Sir Lenny Henry says

Sir Lenny Henry said: “I loved sitting for Portrait Artist of the Year in 2022 and it was a real honour to take part. This year is a little different, but no less momentous. I’m so grateful for the chance to be invited back to play my part in what will hopefully be a new world record for the history books!”

Artists from all over the United Kingdom will compete for the 2023 title of Portrait Artist of the Year. Famous faces from the worlds of show business, athletics, literature, and politics will pose for the contestants. Seven preliminary rounds will see the artists competing for the attention of judges Tai Shan Schierenberg, Kathleen Soriano, and Kate Bryan.

Taking the sitter’s chair this year are: Emma Freud (Broadcaster), Richard Curtis (Screenwriter), Fleur East (Singer), Ainsley Harriott (Chef/television personality), Rory Stewart (President of “Give Directly” and author), Rob Delaney (Comedian), Jay Rayner (Critic), Nihal Arthanayake (Presenter), Susanna Reid (Presenter), Phillipa Perry (Author), Alan Titchmarsh (Presenter), Sue Barker (Sports personality/presenter), Josh Widdecombe (Comedian), Nicky Spence (Opera Singer), Shirley Ballas (Dancer), Vanessa Kingori (Conde Nast Chief Business Officer), Mishal Hussain (Presenter), Nigel Havers (Actor), Lenny Rush (Actor), Joe Sugg (writer and YouTube personality) and Daryl McCormack (Actor).

The three finalists will compete to win the title by painting broadcasting legend and Portrait Artist of the Year royalty Dame Joan Bakewell, and the heat winners will move on to paint British pop icon Emma Bunton in the semi-final round.

The winner of this year’s contest will receive a commission worth £10,000 to paint a portrait of Dr. Jane Morris Goodall, DBE, the internationally renowned conservationist, for display at the National Portrait Gallery in December.

• Portrait Artist of the Year: Portrait Artist of the Decade (Sky Arts Wednesday 4 October 2023)

• Portrait Artist of the Year: Celebrities V Kids Special (Sky Arts Wednesday 21 June 2023)

• Portrait Artist of the Year “Henning Wehn, Lemar, Candice Carty-Williams” (Makeful Sunday April 9 2023)

• Portrait Artist of the Year 2022 (Sky Arts 19 October 2022)

• Portrait Artist of the Year: Portrait Artist of the Year: The Exhibition (S8EP Sky Arts Wed 13 April 2022)

• Portrait Artist of the Year: Nicola Benedetti (S8EP11 Sky Arts Wed 22 Dec 2021)

• Portrait Artist of the Year: Best Of (S8EP12 Sky Arts Wed 22 Dec 2021)

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